Lights above a center island in an amiano and son kitchen

Pros & Cons of an Open Floor Plan

Large Living Room and Kitchen Open Floor Plan

Open floor plans are becoming increasingly popular. An open floor plan eliminates the separation of a kitchen, dining room, and living room, leading to an open lay-out with no dividing walls.

However, before you start knocking down walls, it is important to know that there are both pros and cons to choosing an open floor plan for your home!

Pros of an Open Floor Plan

Open floor plans definitely have their positives. Here are two to consider for your home.

  • More Social Space: The open floor plan design allows everyone to coexist and live together. That means less segmenting off. Especially in a home with multiple people, separate rooms can lead to a lack of conversation. Dinner time is one of the few moments during the day when everyone gathers in one space, and that disconnect can be tough on a family. Opening up your floor plan can help bring your family together by limiting the separation in your home’s design. Whether you’re cooking in the kitchen, or lounging on the couch, the whole family can feel connected!
  • Keep an Eye on the Young Ones: It is important to keep an eye on your children, and if you are busy cooking dinner for your family, it be can difficult to multi-task. Having an open floor plan can allow you to keep an eye on your children while still being able to complete your meal prep!

Cons of an Open Floor Plan

As great as they are, there are some cons to an open floor plan.

  • Less Privacy: For those that like their space, it might be nice to enjoy watching some TV without interrupting someone who is having a conversation in the kitchen. Be aware! 
  • Clutter is More Visible: After dinner, you may enjoy leaving dishes or messes until later. Likewise, when cooking, you might not worry about messes in the living room because you’re busy making dinner. When everything is visible, however, it’s much harder to ignore these things. The visibility of everything in the living area puts the room’s organization front and center. That could mean cluttered rooms and stress if you are not on top of keeping things tidy. 

Have you been considering designing an open floor plan for your home? Reach out today to talk with the experts at Amiano & Son Construction to figure out if this layout is right for you!

 

Wendy Amiano

Wendy Amiano

Recently recieving her NARI certification as a Certified Remodeler Wendy Amiano has worked in many areas of remodeling. Her knowledge extends into various areas of the remodel but her main specialty is consulting on the before, during and after a remodel as featured at the Philly Home Show.